Ian McCartney MP

While the UK works with its allies to defeat the scourge of terrorism, tragically innocent victims are sometimes killed and injured in foreign terrorist attacks, and until now UK victims have not been eligible for compensation.

Introduced today by Home Secretary Alan Johnson as part of the Crime and Security Bill, the new Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme, will provide the innocent victims of foreign terrorist attacks financial compensation as an expression of public sympathy and in recognition that a British citizen has been a blameless victim.

Makerfield MP Ian McCartney has run a high profile campaign to gain justice for victims and has been working with victims including constituent Jon Green.

Speaking from parliament Mr McCartney said, “I warmly welcome this announcement of a scheme for the future along with recognition of something I asked the Government to consider last autumn - that any new compensation scheme should not overlook victims who have already suffered and will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives."

“Victims' families throughout Britain may feel concerned that the proposed schemes may not be implemented before the general election. That would be scandalous, particularly for the families who have been waiting since Bali for financial support and recognition of the consequences of such terrorist attacks.

“It is incumbent that politicians in all parties work together to ensure that this legislation is passed so that the victims and their families can start to rebuild their lives.”

The Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation scheme will apply to designated terrorist acts that occur outside the United Kingdom and:

- broadly mirror the existing domestic criminal injuries compensation scheme which compensates blameless victims of violent crime in England, Scotland and Wales who have no other recourse to compensation,
- as with the domestic scheme, compensation awards will be calculated according to a tariff based on the seriousness of the injury,
- eligibility for compensation will be limited to British victims and nationals of a member State of the European Union and European Economic Area with a sufficient connection to the UK.

The new statutory scheme will apply to any terrorist act that takes place on or after 18 January 2010. However, the government appreciates that there will be victims of overseas terrorist attacks in recent years who continue to face hardship as a result of the on-going consequences of a disability arising from the injuries they sustained.

In recognition of this the government will, alongside the introduction of the statutory scheme, provide assistance to eligible victims of overseas terrorist attacks since January 2002 who are in such a position. Details of this time-limited scheme will be announced in due course.

Parliamentarians were quick to praise Ian’s campaign which has drawn support from across the normal party divide.

The non-statutory scheme will only be introduced once the legislation governing the Victims of Terrorism Compensation Scheme has been passed by Parliament.